West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-07-22
A HANDFUL OF MEN DEFEAT
ED A GREAT FEDERAL AR
MY AT SABINE PASS.
New Orleans Picayune.

New Orleans Picaynne.
Sabine Pass is invested with an
historical romance of which many
Southerners are ignorant. Ex-Presi-
dent Davis, in the Rise and Fall of
the Confederate Government" says
that the circumstances ale so re-
markUble as properly to be consid
cred marvellous.
In September. 1863, the strategic
importance to the Union forces of
the possession of Sabine River caus-
ed the organization of a large eXpe-
dition of land and naval forces to
enter ana ascend the river II sue.
cessful it gave them short lines for
operation against the interior Of
Texas. and relieved them Of the dis
comiiture resulting from their eXpul-
sion from Galveston Harbor. The
fleet of the enemy numbered twenty
three vessels. The forces were esti-
mated to be 10000 men, under Ma
ior- General William b. Franklin
and Brigadiers w. II. Emory, God
frey Wetzel and Frank Nickerson.
No adequate provision had been
made TO resist such force, and un-
der the circumstances none might
have been promptly made on which
reliance could have been reasonably
placed. A few miles above the en-
trance into the Sabine River small
earthworll had been constructed, gar
risoned at the time of the action by
forty two men and two lieutenants,
with an armament Of six guns. The
officers and men were all Irishmen,
and the company was called the Da
Wis Guards. The captain, f. Ii. Cd
ium, was temporarily absent, so that
the command devolved on Lieuten-
ant r. w. Bowling. Like Moultrie
in the Revolutionary war, they were
advised and refused to leave the
fort. Commodore Leon Smith, com.
manding the Marine Department Of
Texas, says in his official report of
Sept. 9, 1868: Il arrived at the pass
at p. m. | found the enemy off
and inside the bar with nineteen
gunboats and steamships and other
ships-of war, carrying, as well as l
could judge, $4,000 men. | proceed
cd with Captain Odium to the fort
and found Lieutenant ~ II. Smith,
OF the Engineer Corps, with forty
two men, defending the fort. Until
3 p. IN. our men did not open fire on
the enemy, as the range was too dis
tant. The officers of the fort coolly
held their nre until the enemy had
approached near enough to reach
them. But when the enemy arrived
within good range our batteries
were opened and gallantly replied to
calling and most terrific lire from
the enemy. AS | entered the fort
the gunboats Clifton, Arizona, Sach-
EN- and Granite State, with several
others, came boldly up to within
800 yards and opened their bate
ries, which were gallantly and ehec-
lively replied to by the DAVIS
Guards. For one hour and thirty
minutes most terrific lombard
ment Of grape, canister and shell
was directed against our heroic and
devoted little band within the fort.
The shot struck in every direction,
but. thanks be to God, not one of the
noble Davis Guards was hurt.
Every man stood at his post, re-
oardless of the murderous fire that
was poured upon them from every
direction. The result of the battle,
which lasted from $3.50 to 5 p. m,
was the capturing of the Clifton and
Sachem, eighteen heavy guns, 100
prisoners, and the killing and wound
ing of fifty men and driving outside
the bar of twenty three vessels in
all. The inquiry may naturally
arise how this small number of men
could take charge of so large a body
of prisoners. This required that to
their valor they should add strata
gem, a few men were placed on the
parapets as scnhnels, the rest were
marched out as guard to receive
the prisoners and their arms. Thus
was concealed the fact that the fort
was empty. The report of the guns
bombarding the fort had been heard
and soon after the close of the bat
tie re-enforcements arrived, which
relieved the little garrison from its
embarrassment.
"A few days after the battle each
man that participated in the fight
was presented with silver medal,
inscribed as follows: On one side
ID. g. for the Davis Guards, and
on the reverse side Sabine Pass,
Sept. s, 1863"